Prefabricated concrete tanks and structures



Jan. 31, 1967 D. PRITZKER 3,300,916

PREF'ABRICATED CONCRETE TANKS AND STRUCTURES Filed Nv. 14, 1963 DAV\DPRITZKER INVENTOR.

BY 7 3M 47' TORNEYS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 31, 1967 D. PRlTZKERPREFABRICATED CONCRETE TANKS AND STRUCTURES 5 Sheets -Sheet 2 Filed Nov.14, 1963 IOB i mb

ATTORNEYS Jan. 31, 1967 D. PRITZKER 3,300,916

PREFABRICATED'CONCRETE TANKS AND STRUCTURES Filed. Nov. 14, 1963 sShees$heet 3 DAV|D PRITZKER INVENTOR.

A TTOR/VEYS 3 1967 D. PRITZKER 3, 00,916

} PREFABRICATED CONCRETE TANKS AND STRUCTURES Filed Nov. 14, 1965 5Sheets-Sheet 4 DAVID PRITZKER A TTORNE Y5 31, 1967 D. PRITZKER 3,300,916

PREFABRICATED CONCRETE TANKS AND STRUCTURES Filed Nov. 14, 1963 5Sheets-Sheet 5 a 0mm PRWZKER INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,3%,9l6 Patented Jan. 31, 1967 PREFABRECATEDCGNCRETE TANKS AND STRUCTURES David Pritzker, 7340 38th NE, Seattle,Wash. 9%115 Filed Nov. 14, 1963, Ser. No. 323,673

Claims priority, application Canada, Dec. 3, 192,

863,581 3 Claims. (Cl. 5281) This invention relates to the building ofstructures such as tanks, containers or enclosures from pre-castconcrete components. More particularly, it relates to the building ofsuch structures in various dimensions and shapes from pre-cast units,without the requirement for auxiliary supporting frames or formations ofsteel or concrete.

Among the disadvantages in prior pre-fabricated container and tankconstructions, has been the requirement for added frameworkreinforcements in order to render the structures safe and sufficientlystrong to prevent disconnection of the structurally assembled parts whenin use.

It has been one of the primary objects of this invention to provide forthe production of structurally reinforced tank-like containers frompre-cast components or units for the safe storage of fluid materialseither liquid or solid, without the requirement of auxiliaryreinforcements.

.It is also a principal object of this invention to pro vide containersof the above stated character that are relatively simple inconstruction, exceptionally strong, durable and comparativelyinexpensive to fabricate.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention reside in thedetails of construction of its parts and in their mode of assembly andfunctional relationship in the structure.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention I haveprovided the improved details of construc tion, the preferred forms ofwhich are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a tank structure, embodied by thepresent invention shown partly in radial section. as equipped with adome-like top or cover and a dished bottom.

FIG. 2 is an elevational view, partly in radial section of a similarstructure with fiat top or cover and flat bottom.

FIG. 3 is a horizontal section, taken on line 33 in FIG. '1.

FIG. 4 is a horizontal section of a structure of rectangular formationembodied by this invention as with its side wall units assembled towithstand internal pressure.

FIG. 5 (being fragmentary) and FIG. 6 are horizontal sectional views ofstructures similar to those of FIGS. 1 and 2 but showing the side wallforming components assembled to withstand external pressure.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional detail illustrating the joining ofadiacent side wall forming components as assembled in FIGS. 1 and 3.

FIG. 8 is a sectional detail showing the joint sealing and tie boltjoining of adjacent side wall segments of a structure as assembled inFIG. 3.

FIG. 9 is a similar sectional detail showing the joining of side wallsegments of an enclosure like that of FIG. 4 or FIG. 6.

FIG. 9a is an enlarged sectional detail showing the tie bolt joining ofhalf-posts of side wall components.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged end view of one of the side wall components.

' as well shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. ll is a sectional detail showing the assembly of components for theformation of the top or cover of a rectangular enclosure.

FiG. 12 is a plan view of one of the roof slabs of a structure as seenin FIG. 2.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on line 13-13 in FIG.12.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged vertical sectional detail of a side wall of anenclosure, showing its supporting footing and the encircling retainingring as applied about the upper edge of its side wall components.

FIG. 15 is a sectional detail of the retaining ring as applied to acircular enclosure with flat top or cover portion.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

By the present assembling and joining of prefabricated components,simple, durable and comparatively inexpensive structures may be providedthat are characterized by the fact that their side wall componentsembody structural elements or parts cast integrally therewith thateliminate the requirement of reinforcing frames, beams or posts.

FIG. 1 illustrates in side elevational and radial section, a cylindricaltank or container with a dome shaped top or cover, a downwardly dishedbottom and an enclosing side wall that is made up of a succession ofvertical pre-cast segments 10 assembled edge to edge and so joined andsecured as to adequately witrstand internal pressure. Each segment orcomponent 10 of the side wail structure, in horizontal cross-section asseen enlarged in FIG. 10 is of shallow U-shaped configuration and, asassembled in the side wall construction, has its arcuate base portion10b, arched inwardly and its opposite side or leg portions are outwardlydirected, These side edge portions 10c specifically define structuralreinforcement or prestressed ribs for strengthening the containerenclosing side wall.

The enclosing side wall of the cylindrical tank or container of FIG. 1is shown to be supported upon a continuousfooting 11, and the areaimmediately within this footing is covered by a downwardly dished tankbottom 12. Overlying the enclosure as formed by the succession ofjuxtaposed segments 10 is the top or cover structure, designated in itsentirety by numeral 13. In FIG. 1 this cover is shown to be of dome-likeformation later to be described.

Each wall forming component 10 is formed to its full length in theoutside surfaces of its opposite side or leg portions 100, as best shownin FIG. 10, closely adjacent the inner face of the arcuate base portion10b with channels 14 for a purpose presently explained. Each of the sideedge or leg portions 10c forms what is herein designated to be a halfpost and, in the wall structure, as formed by the assembled components10, adjacent half posts together form a vertical post or structuralreinforcing rib for the container side wall. Such reinforcing ribs forthe containers of this invention are best shown in the sectionaldetailed views of FIGS. 7, 8 and 9. The preferred manner and means forjoining adjacent side wall components 10 and sealing the joints betweenthem is shown in these three views and in FIG. 90.

Referring again particularly to the tank of FIG. 1 and its side wallstructure as shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, it is to be noted that the verticaljoints between adjacent half posts or side wall portions 100 are eachsealed by a suitable compressible strip material 15, such as syntheticrubber or plastic which serves to compensate for slight variations inshape or surface smoothness along the longitudinally abutting edges. Thedisposition of this joint sealing material is shown in FIG. 7 to becontained in the opposedly related channels 14 as provided on thesurfaces of adjacent side edge portions 100. The longitudinal channels14 may be so made that their defining surfaces are rough or coarse intexture, thus to enable subsequently applied concrete upon beinginjected into the joint to effectively adhere thereto. The angularrelationship of adjacent surfaces of half posts varies with the size andform of the container. In cylindrical containers all employing wallcomponents of the same width, the angle increases with the lessening ofthe diameter. After the wall segments 10 are assembled and joined, as inFIG. 7, the joint is filled with concrete as at 16. This filling extendsto the full length of the components. Also, the joint is filled at theinside of the plastic strip 15 as at 16.

The footing 11 on which the side wall components 10 are arranged injuxtaposition is of that cross-sectional formation best shown in FIG. 14wherein it is seen to be of substantial vertical thickness. The footingis of annular formation to correspond to the size of tank or enclosureand about its outer peripheral portion is formed with an integrally castupwardly projecting side wall retaining ring 28 and about its insideperiphery is formed with a downwardly stepped, inwardly projecting ledge29. The bottom 12 of the structure of FIG. 1 is made up of an annulardownwardly sloping outer or rim portion 12s and a flat bottom slab 12d.The joint between the footing 11 and outer bottom parts 12s are sealed,as at 29' in FIG. 14 by a suit-able plastic material. Likewise, theparts 12s and 12d of the bottom have the joints between them filled witha suitable plastic to compensate for contraction or expansion.

In the assembly of the side wall segments 10 in a tank structure, as inFIG. 1, the segments are stood on end upon the footing 11, with theouter edges of the half post 10s engaged firmly against the upwardlyprojecting retaining ring 28 as has been shown in FIG. 14. The halfposts of adjacent segments are then drawn tightly together by use of tiebolts 35 passed horizontally therethrough at intervals of about 3 feetin vertical spacing, as in FIG. 1. It has been shown in FIG. 7 that eachhalf post 10s has tubular pipe sections 36 embedded therein inhorizontal alignment with those of an adjacent half post to receive thetie bolts. The tie bolts have anchor plates 37 at their ends forengaging against the ends of the pipe inserts 36 and nuts 37 arethreaded onto the ends of the tie bolts to draw the segments firmlytogether. This joining of segments 10 is done after the sealing strips15 have been applied but before the concrete joint filling 16 has beeninjected. The ends of the tie bolts terminate within the half-posts andthe sockets which contain the anchor plates and nuts are subsequentlyfilled with concrete, as at 38 in FIG. 9a.

At their upper ends the assembled side wall forming segments 10 are heldagainst outward forces by a prestressed concrete ring 40 that is appliedabout the tank. For support of this ring 40, the upper ends of the halfposts are notched, to form seats 42 in which the ring is seated, asshown best in FIG. 14. This ring 40 serves in the same manner to retainthe upper ends of the side wall components 10 against spreading as doesthe ring 28 formed integrally on the footing 11.

The top 13 of the tank of FIG. 1, here shown to be of dome-like form ismade up of pie-shaped segments or slabs 50 which are placed radiallyedge to edge to rest at their wider outer ends on the top end surfacesof the sidewall structure, as comprised by the assembled and securedsegments 10, against the ring 40. At their inner ends they rest firmlyagainst and are interlocked with a concrete ring 52. This ring issupported by columns as formed and during the assembly and placing ofthe roof slabs 5t) and are removed from support upon completion of thetop structure. The top opening as provided by the ring 52 may then becovered by a slab 53, as shown in FIG. 1. Each of the pie shaped slabs50 which are assembled to .form the top strl qt re is formed on itsunder side with an integrally cast beam 56b which extends centrallythereof substantially to its full length, as seen in FIGS. 12 and 13.The slabs 50 are so dimensioned that in their placement for forming acover or roof, the ends of the beam portions may be registered with andrested on the upper ends of the posts of the side wall components as inFIG. 14 and at the inner ends of the slabs they are extended slightlyfor their embedment in the concrete ring 52 as formed.

After the cover or top 13 has been completed, a concrete filling, as at55 in FIGS. 1 and 14 is injected into the joint between the ends of sidewall and top segments, and ring 40. Likewise, concrete filling 55x isapplied between the lower ends of the side wall segments 10 andretaining ring 28 of the footing as shown in FIGS. 1 and 14. It is to benoted also in FIGS. 1 and 14 that a concrete filling 56 fills the spacebetween the inside surface of the side wall as formed by the assembledunits 10 and the upwardly projecting peripheral edge of the bottomsegments 12s.

The radial joints between top slabs 50 are sealed with a suitableplastic or cementious filling to allow expansion or contraction withoutdestroying the integrity of the joint.

The tank construction of FIG. 2 is substantially like that of FIGS. 1and 3 except in its top and bottom formations, both of which are shownas being fiat. Like parts of all constructions herein illustrated havebeen given corresponding reference numerals.

The structure of FIG. 2 has a side wall formation that is substantiallyidentical to that of FIG. 1, as is also its footing 11. Likewise thebottom 12 or floor is made up of pie shaped segments assembled as inFIG. 1. These are cast with thickened peripheral outer end supportingshoulders 13s that rest on the inwardly projecting ledge 29 of thefooting 11, and at their inner ends are rested similarly on theprojecting peripheral ledge of a circular central slab 12' of concrete.This fiat bottom wall is slightly downwardly dished in its peripheralformation.

It is further to be noted that in this structure of FIG. 2 the centralbottom slab 12 serves as an adequate footing on which vertical columns60 are arranged for the support of a concrete ring 61 on which the innerends of the cover forming slabs 50 are rested. Because of the flatnessof this top or cover, the supporting columns 60 of ring 61 remain aspermanent supports therefor.

FIG. 4 shows the formation of a rectangular structure wherein the sidewall segments are arranged on a footing 11 which would be essentiallylike that of FIG. 1 or 2 and provided with a suitable floor or bottomlike that of FIG. 1 or FIG. 2, or of other formation. Its cover or topstructure would correspond to that of FIG. 11 that shows a succession ofjuxtaposed wall components 10 supported at their ends on the side wallsof the enclosure and between its ends by columns 60 as in the structureof FIG. 2.

The side wall components 10 of FIG. 1 or FIG. 2 which are designed andassembled to withstand internal pressure are, in accordance with thisinvention, reversed, as in FIGS. 5 and 6, as required to withstandexternal or inwardly directed forces such as may be required forunderground shelters. These structures would be provided with floor androof structures appropriate for the requirement in accordance with theteachings herein and the disclosures of FIGS. 1, 2 and 11.

It is to be understood that in a structure in which the side wallcomponents are arranged as in FIGS. 4 and 6, the joining of thehalfipost portions 10c would be as seen in FIG. 9 wherein it is notedthat the plastic joint filling strips 15 are located adjacent the insidesurfaces of the half posts whereas in the tank of FIG. 1 they areadjacent the base edges of the components. However, the joints betweencomponents 10 of all structures are filled with cement in the samemanner as in FIG. 7.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. In a prefabricated tank and the like having a continuous side walland a footing supporting said wall; said side wall comprising asuccession of like precast components arranged upright upon said footingin edge to edge relationship; each of said components being of shallowU-shape in cross-section with its basewall transversely arched and itsopposite side edge portions forming legs extending in substantiallyparallel relationship away from the basewall; the joint between adjacentedge portions of adjacent components being sealed by plastic stripsinterposed between them and there being tie bolts extended through andjoining said adjacent leg portions of adjacent components to retain theintegrity of the joint and unify the joined components, said joined legportions providing reinforcing posts; and a roof structure composed of asuccession of adjacent radial slab-like segments rested at their outerends on said continuous side wall and at their inner ends rested againsta supporting ring, and wherein the radial slab-like segments of the roofstructure are each formed lengthwise thereof on its underside and alonga central longitudinal line, with a reinforcing beam integrally castwith the slab, said beams of said slabs resting at their outer ends onthe upper ends of said reinforcing posts and at their inner ends areembedded in said supporting ring.

2. The prefabricated structure of claim 1 wherein the radial slab-likesegments that form the roof are upwardly arched and are so supported asto coact in their assembly to form dome-like roof structure.

3. The prefabricated structure of claim 1 including a floor slabcovering the area within said footing wherein the radial roof-likesegments are flat and the ring on which they rest at their inner ends issupported by columns rested on said fioor slab.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,089,010 3/1914Pugh 52265 1,185,871 6/1916 Broughton 52259 1,425,860 9/1922 Johnson522O X 1,571,484 2/1926 Knight 52586 X 1,964,131 6/1934 Nelson et al52396 2,202,745 5/1940 Muse 52259 X 2,592,634 4/1952 Wilson 52220 X2,864,098 12/1958 Lorimer 52-247 X 2,902,157 9/1959 Culver 5220 X3,180,057 4/1965 Pritzker 52-80 X FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

A. C. PERI-1AM, Assistant Examiner.

1. IN A PREFABRICATED TANK AND THE LIKE HAVING A CONTINUOUS SIDE WALLAND A FOOTING SUPPORTING SAID WALL; SAID SIDE WALL COMPRISING ASUCCESSION OF LIKE PRECAST COMPONENTS ARRANGED UPRIGHT UPON SAID FOOTINGIN EDGE TO EDGE RELATIONSHIP; EACH OF SAID COMPONENTS BEING OF SHALLOWU-SHAPE IN CROSS-SECTION WITH ITS BASEWALL TRANSVERSELY ARCHED AND ITSOPPOSITE SIDE EDGE PORTIONS FORMING LEGS EXTENDING IN SUBSTANTIALLYPARALLEL RELATIONSHIP AWAY FROM THE BASEWALL; THE JOINT BETWEEN ADJACENTEDGE PORTIONS OF ADJACENT COMPONENTS BEING SEALED BY PLASTIC STRIPSINTERPOSED BETWEEN THEM AND THERE BEING TIE BOLTS EXTENDED THROUGH ANDJOINING SAID ADJACENT LEG PORTIONS OF ADJACENT COMPONENTS TO RETAIN THEINTEGRITY OF THE JOINT AND UNIFY THE JOINED COMPONENTS, SAID JOINED LEGPORTIONS PROVIDING REINFORCING POSTS; AND A ROOF STRUCTURE COMPOSED OF A